Pressure washer

ABSTRACT

A pressure washer is provided including a housing. A pump is contained within the housing for pressurizing fluid received through a water inlet port and for pumping the pressurized fluid through an outlet port. An application wand is connected to the water outlet for outputting a pressurized stream of fluid. At least one wheel is supported on the housing so as to enable rolling movement of the housing. A first handle is arranged on the housing for movement between a retracted position in which a gripping portion of the handle is arranged relatively closer to the housing and an extended position in which the gripping portion of the handle is arranged relatively further away from the housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pressure washers, and moreparticularly, to electric or gasoline-powered pressure washers commonlyused for household power spraying and washing applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electric-powered pressure washers have become increasingly popular foruse in household cleaning applications, including cleaning decks,patios, siding, automobiles, and the like. Such pressure washers now areeconomically manufactured and available to the consumer market in mosthardware and home improvement retail stores. Such electric-poweredpressure washers basically comprise a movable cart or stand, a waterpump, an electric motor for powering the pump, and a spray wand andnozzle assembly. Operation of the pressure washer, following coupling ofa common garden hose between a home water outlet and the inlet to thepressure washer pump, generates a high pressure liquid discharge up to1000 psi and more, for power spraying applications.

While such electric-powered pressure washer must be connected to anelectrical outlet, the pressure washer typically is moved by the userfrom location to location during usage. For this purpose, it is commonfor the housing of the pressure washer to have a handle which permitsthe user to lift and carry the pressure washer from location tolocation. Alternatively, the housing may be supported on wheels and beprovided with an upwardly-extending pull handle which enables thepressure washer to be tipped and rolled from location to location. Itcan be tiresome, of course, for the user to repeatedly lift and carrythe wheeless pressure washer. On the other hand, the upstanding pullhandle of wheel pressure washers usually requires that the pressurewasher and handle be shipped and packaged in disassembled condition,requiring assembly by the customer, which can be inconvenient orcumbersome. Upon assembly, the upstanding handle also can impede compactstorage of the pressure washer in the home. Pressure washersmanufactured for the consumer market also often are less resistant toabusive handling. If a wheeled pressure washer is forcefully pushed intoan obstruction, the wheels or their mounting can be damaged. Itemsforcefully wedged between the wheels and housing also can inflict damageto the wheel mounting.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheeled pressurewasher having a pull handle that can be pre-assembled by themanufacturer, but yet facilitates compact shipping of the pressurewasher by the manufacturer and storage by the user.

Another object is to provide a pressure washer as characterized abovewhich has a pull handle that facilitates both lifting and rolling of thepressure washer during usage.

A further object provided by a wheeled pressure washer of the above kindwhich has a handle that can be stored in a retracted position thatfacilitates carrying of the pressure washer and which can be selectivelymoved to an extended position to facilitate rolling movement of thepressure washer.

Yet another object provides a pressure washer of the foregoing type inwhich the pull handle forms part of a stationary lifting handle when ina retracted position.

Still a further object is to provide a pressure washer of such type inwhich the handle is protectively contained from exposure to liquids andcontaminants while in a stored position.

Another object provides such wheeled pressure washer in which the wheelsare protected from and less susceptible to damage from obstructionsduring rolling movement of the pressure washer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a pressure washer in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the illustrated pressure washer;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the illustrated pressure washer;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the illustrated pressure washer;

FIG. 5 is a partially broken away view of the illustrated pressurewasher showing the pull handle thereof in a raised position;

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the pressure washer with the pullhandle in an extended position as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken in the plane of line 7-7in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 8A-8C are enlarged fragmentary sections showing movement of thepull handle between extended and retracted positions;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective of an alternative embodiment of pressurewasher in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective of the pressure washer shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective of still another alternative embodimentof pressure washer in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective of the pressure washer shown in FIG. 11.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof havebeen shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown anillustrative pressure washer 10 in accordance with the invention whichbasically includes a housing or body 11, preferably molded of plastic,that houses a liquid pump 12 and electric-powered motor 14 for operatingthe pump 12, and a operator lance wand 15 (FIG. 4) for connection to thepressure washer via a high pressure fluid transfer hose 16. The motor 14and pump 12 may be of a conventional type, and the motor 14 has anelectric cord 18 which can be connected to an electrical outlet by asuitable extension cord for permitting movement of the pressure washer10 by an operator during usage.

The pump 12 has an inlet 17 on a rear side of the housing 11 connectableto a liquid supply source, such as a home water outlet, by a garden hoseor the like and an outlet 19 on a front side to which the high pressurehose 16 is connectable. A nozzle 20 of a selected type is mountable onthe operator wand 15, which typically includes a hand operated triggervalve 21 for allowing the operator to controllably direct a stream ofpressurized liquid toward a substrate surface for cleaning. The highpressure hose 16 preferably has a reinforced construction, such adisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,409, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference. The hose 16 and wand 15 each may beprovided with conventional fittings and couplings to effect appropriatefluid tight connections therebetween. While the illustrated pressurewasher is powered by an electric motor, it will be understood thatalternatively the pressure washer may be powered by a gasoline operatedmotor.

The pressure washer housing 11 in this case has a two-part constructioncomprising a rear body portion 25 and a forwardly-mounted cover portion26. The illustrated electric motor 14 and pump 20 are mounted on therear body portion 25 by appropriate fastening bolts or the like. Therear body portion 25 in this instance has a central rear vertical wall28 (FIGS. 8A-8B) upon which the pump and motor are mounted and forwardlyextending side walls 29 which define a cavity within which the pump andmotor are partially contained. The forward cover 26 portion similarlyhas a front wall and rearwardly-extending side walls which define acavity that mates with the rear body portion 25 for receiving andcontaining the motor and pump.

For supporting the hose 16 and cord 18 during storage of the pressurewasher, upstanding hooks 32, 34 are mounted rearwardly of the rear bodyportion 25 over which the cord 18 and hose 16 may be hung for storage. Areceptacle 35 also mounted rearwardly of the rear body portion 25 isformed with openings 36, 38 (FIG. 3) for receiving and supporting thewand 15 and spray nozzle 20 in depending relation during storage, asdepicted in FIG. 4. An upwardly facing receptacle 39 is mounted near thebottom of the rear body portion 25 for supporting the depending end ofthe control wand 15. A support flange 40 in this case extends betweenthe receptacle openings 36, 38 for defining a hook receiving opening 41for a chemical or cleaning solution bottle for use with the pressurewasher in a conventional manner. The side walls of the rear body portion25 and forward cover portion 26 in this instance are formed with airventilation openings 42 communicating with the motor containing cavitywithin the housing.

For facilitating rolling movement of the pressure washer 10 during usageby an operator, the housing 11 is supported by a pair of wheels 45. Thewheels 45 in this case are mounted on stationary axles fixed on the rearbody portion 25 adjacent a rear side of the housing 11.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the pressure washer hasa handle arrangement that facilitates lifting and carrying of thepressure washer during usage, as well as rolling movement. To this end,the pressure washer housing 11 has a stationary lifting handle 48extending upwardly from the rear body portion 25. The handle 48 in thiscase has inverted U-shape which defines a horizontal gripping bar 49 anda clearance space 50 within which the hand of an operator can bepositioned for gripping the handle. It will be understood that thestationary handle may be mounted on the rear body portion 25 oralternatively formed as an integral part of the rear body portion 25.The stationary lifting handle 48, as indicated above, is convenient forlifting and carrying of the pressure washer 10. It is not convenient,however, for pulling and rolling of the pressure washer along a floorsurface since it would necessitate the operator bending overconsiderably during such movement of the pressure washer.

In keeping with the invention, the pressure washer 10 further has a pullhandle 52 that is selectively extendible from a retracted position to anextended position that enables the operator to easily grasp and pull thepressure washer along a floor surface without awkward bending movement.The illustrated pull handle 52 comprises an elongated plate 54 having agripping handle 55 at an upper thereof. The elongated plate 54 islocated in substantially parallel relation to the rear wall 28 of therear body portion 25 and the gripping handle 55 has an inverted U-shapecomprising a gripping bar 56 that again defines a horizontal handgripping opening 58. The pull handle plate 54 is formed with a grid offorwardly extending reinforcing ribs 59 for enhancing the rigidity ofthe pull handle.

For supporting the pull handle 52 for movement between extended andretracted positions, the rear body portion 25 of the housing 11 isformed with a rearwardly-facing recess or track 60 (FIG. 5)complimentary to the shape of the elongated plate 54 for guidingvertical movement of the elongated plate 54, as depicted in FIGS. 8A-8C.The rear body portion 25 has a rear cover panel 61 fixed over the recessor track 60 for defining an upwardly-opening containment and slidingchamber 62 for the pull handle plate 54. It will be appreciated that thechamber 62 substantially encloses the elongated pull handle plate 54while in a retracted position and, hence, protects the pull handle andits guide track from water and contaminants during usage of the pressurewasher.

For limiting outward extended movement of the pull handle 52, a latchingmechanism 65 is provided between a rear side of the body portion wall 28and the front side of the pull handle plate 54. The pull handle plate 54is formed with an upwardly extending flexible latching flange 66 havinga forwardly extending guide and locking rib 68 at an upper end thereof.The latching flange 66 preferably is integrally formed with the pullhandle plate 54 and disposed within a recess 69 of the plate 54 forenabling rearwardly biased rearward movement relative to the rear wall28. The body portion rear wall 28 in this case is formed with arearwardly extending camming ledge 70 for urging the flexible latchingflange 66 of the pull handle in a rearward direction in response tolifting movement of the handle until reaching a raised position at whichthe locking rib 68 of the flange 66 springs forwardly into a lockingrecess 71 defined above the camming flange 70. A rearwardly extendingledge 72 of the housing wall 28 disposed above the latching recess 71 isengageable by the pull handle latching rib 68 to limit upward pulloutmovement of the pull handle 52. Hence, it can be seen that the pullhandle 52 can be raised to a predetermined extended position by liftingand pulling the handle 52.

To lower the handle 52 to its retracted stored position, a downwardforce on the pull handle 52 will urge the locking rib 68 over aninclined ramp 75 that defines a lower wall of the locking recess 71allowing it to ride over the camming ledge 70 as the pull handle 52 islowered to its stored position. It will be appreciated by one skilled inthe art that in such retracted position, the pressure washer 10 may bemore compactly stored. In addition, the pull handle 52 may be factoryinstalled and shipped in such retracted position, thereby eliminatingthe need for assembly by a customer upon purchase.

In keeping with a further aspect of the invention, the gripping handle55 of the pull handle 52 and stationary lifting handle 48 are formed toblend together when the pull handle 52 is in a retracted position todefine a unitary, easy-to-grasp lifting handle composite. In this casethe stationary lifting handle 48 and the gripping handle 55 are formedwith adjacent vertically mating faces 78, 79 and have similarlycontoured forward 80 and rear faces 81, respectively, for defining ahandle assembly which can be singularly grasped when lifting andcarrying the pressure washer. The blending of the handles 48, 55 furtherprovide a streamlined and aesthetic appearance when the pull handle 52is in its stored retracted position. On the other hand, when rollingmovement of the pressure washer is more convenient, the pull handle 52may be easily raised.

In keeping with a further aspect of the invention, the pressure washerhousing wheels 45 are recessed and protectively contained within thehousing 11 for minimizing damage from impact with obstructions or withitems being forcefully wedged between the wheels and the housing thatcan inflict damage to the wheel mountings. To this end, in theillustrative embodiment, the pressure washer housing 11 is formed withcontoured outwardly flared fenders 85 which encompass a substantialportion of the outer circumferences of the wheels 45 and protect thewheels from damaging impact. The fenders 85 in this case are formed inthe rear and forward body portions 25, 26 in encompassing relation tothe outer circumferences of the wheels. In this case the fenders 85 aredisposed in close complementary relation to the outer circumference ofthe wheels and encompass an arc of at least 120° of the wheelcircumferences. The wheels 45 are substantially protected from impactwith obstructions when the pressure washer is being moved in a forwarddirection, and the close spacing between the outer perimeter of thewheels 45 and the fenders 85 prevent items from being wedged between thewheel and housing. The smooth lines of curvature between the outwardlyflared fenders 85 and the forward and rear sides of the pressure washerhousing 11 further contribute to its aesthetic and streamlinedappearance of the pressure washer.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, an alternative embodiment of pressurewasher is shown where an item similar to those described above have beengiven similar reference numerals. The pressure washer 10 in this casehas an extendable and retractable pull handle 52 disposed rearwardly ofthe stationary lifting handle 48 and has a U-shaped configuration withan upper gripping handle 55 disposed at a lower less conspicuous levelthan the stationary lifting handle 48. The pull handle 52 similarly isselectively extendable for facilitating pulling movement of the pressurewasher and retractable into a stored position, as illustrated. A bracket35 in this case is disposed to one side of the pressure washer forsupporting a wand 15 and spray nozzle 20 in depending relation, with thelower end of the wand 15 being positionable into a recessed pocket 90 inthe pressure washer housing 11. A pressure hose storage bracket 32 islocated on an opposite side of the pressure washer, and a bracket 33 ismounted on a rear side of the pressure washer housing 11 for supportingand storing the electrical cord of the pressure washer when not in use.A chemical bottle 92 also is supportable on the bracket 33. Outwardlyflared fenders 85 of the pressure washer housing 11 again encompass andprotectively contain the wheels 45.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, there is shown anotheralternative embodiment of pressure washer, wherein items similar tothose described above have been given similar reference numerals. Thepull handle 52 is mounted for retracted and extended position inrearwardly disposed relation to the stationary lifting handle 48. Thepull handle 52 in this case is positioned slightly above the stationarylifting handle 48 when in a retracted position for easy access. Thespray wand and spray nozzle supporting receptacles 35 in this instanceare disposed on one side of the pressure washer housing 11, and a highpressure hose supporting hook 32 is disposed on an opposite side.Rearward brackets 33 are provided for supporting the electric cord in awound condition. The wheels 45 of the pressure washer in this case aredisposed in closely-mounted relation to sides of the pressure washerhousing without over encompassing fenders.

1. A pressure washer comprising: a housing; a pump contained within thehousing for pressurizing fluid received through a water inlet port andfor pumping the pressurized fluid through an outlet port; an applicationwand connected to the water outlet for outputting a pressurized streamof fluid; at least one wheel supported on the housing so as to enablerolling movement of the housing; and a first handle arranged on thehousing for movement between a retracted position in which a grippingportion of the handle is arranged relatively closer to the housing andan extended position in which the gripping portion of the handle isarranged relatively further away from the housing.
 2. A pressure washeraccording to claim 1 further including a stationary second handlearranged on the housing.
 3. A pressure washer according to claim 2wherein the first and second handles blend together to form a unitaryhandle structure when the first handle is in the retracted position. 4.A pressure washer according to claim 3 wherein the first and secondhandles have adjacent mating inner faces and substantially similarlycontoured outer faces.
 5. A pressure washer according to claim 1 whereinthe first handle includes an elongated portion that is slidinglyreceived in a complementary track in the housing to permit the firsthandle to move between the extended and retracted positions.
 6. Apressure washer according to claim 1 further including a latchingmechanism associated with the first handle that engages and preventsfurther extension of the gripping portion of the first handle beyond adefined distance from the housing.
 7. A pressure washer according toclaim 6 wherein the latching mechanism releases and permits movement ofthe first handle in a retraction direction when a force is applied tothe first handle in the retraction direction.
 8. A pressure washeraccording to claim 8 wherein the at least one wheel is recessed into thehousing.
 9. A pressure washer according to claim 1 wherein the housingincludes two wheels.
 10. A pressure washer according to claim 9 whereinthe housing is formed with fenders for protecting the wheels.
 11. Apressure washer according to claim 2 wherein the stationary handle isarranged apart from the gripping portion of the first handle when thefirst handle is in the retracted positions.
 12. A pressure washeraccording to claim 1 further including a receptacle arranged on thehousing for storing the application wand.